ACALA

Geological Expertise, Mining Excellence

Featured topics

Six questions a mine keeps asking, answered by the people who plan them.

Featured topics are the long reads on this site. Each one takes a question that comes up in every project ACALA works on, explains the idea behind it, names the decisions that move the number, shows the GEOVIA tools and ACALA services involved, and collects what our geologists and planners have written about it. Six topics so far: open pit mining, geology modelling, parametric mine design, mine operations, block caving and underground mining, and sustainable mining.

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See the topics
Topic selector: six featured topics, with the chosen topic highlighted and the question it answers Open Pit Mining Featured topic 1 of 6 · Open Pit Mining Question: how do the life-of-mine plan and this month’s schedule agree?
Each topic page answers one question a mine keeps asking, with the idea, the decisions, the tools and the reading behind it. Drag the handle across the six topics.
The ideaThe concept in plain words, with the original text where it is still right.
An interactive figureOne parameter you can move, so the trade-off is felt, not read.
The decisionsThe three or four choices that move the value more than any other.
Tools, hands, trainingHow ACALA helps: licences, services or courses.
ReadingArticles by ACALA geologists and planners on the topic.
FAQThe questions people ask, answered briefly.
Haul trucks on a haul road, seen from above
Six questions a mine keeps asking. Image from the GEOVIA brochure distributed by ACALA.

Six topics

From the ground up: geology, design, planning, operations, sustainability.

Each card opens the full topic page.

Cross-section of nested pushbacks inside a final pit shell over an ore lensorefinal pitwastePushbacks inside one final pit · 1.2 g/t cut-offTopic

Open Pit Mining

Strategic versus tactical plans, cut-off grade, pushbacks and strip ratio, with Whittle, MineSched and Surpac.

 Three drill holes logged into limonite, saprolite and bedrock, with the two contacts modelled as continuous surfaceslimonitesaprolitebedrockDH-01DH-02DH-03Three holes, two contacts, one testable modelTopic

Geology Modeling

From geoscience data to an accurate, reliable 3D model you can test.

 A parameter list on the left generating a benched pit wall on the right, with bench height and berm width dimensionedPARAMETERSbench height10 mbatter angle65°berm width6 mramp gradient10 %10 m6 mChange a parameter, the design rebuilds itselfTopic

Parametric Mine Design

A design that rebuilds itself when the data changes, on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

 Bar chart of planned against actual tonnes for six shifts, with the target lineshort 21 %tonnes per shiftplanactualS1S2S3S4S5S6Plan against actual by shift, known the same dayTopic

Mine Operations

Produce more with less and know it the same day: one source of truth for the operation.

 A cave column above an extraction level with six draw points numbered in draw order213546cave columnextraction levelOne cave, two plans: strategy and draw orderTopic

Block Caving and Underground Mining

Two plans for one cave: the life-of-mine strategy and the daily draw order.

 Grouped bars comparing waste rock, water and carbon dioxide per tonne of metal under two mine planswaste rockwaterCO₂plan Aplan Bper tonne of metalSame metal, less waste, water and CO₂Topic

Sustainable Mining

Less carbon, water and waste, decided in the mine plan.

Topics by mine phase

Where each topic sits in the life of a mine, and the solutions it leads to.

1Exploration

Geology Modeling

What does the data say is in the ground?

Topic

  • Geology Modeling: data, interpretation, construction, validation.

Leads to

  • Solutions: Geology Model, Resource Model. Services: Exploration Activities, Resource Estimate.
2Planning

Open Pit Mining, Parametric Mine Design, Block Caving and Underground

What is it worth, and how do we mine it?

Topics

  • Open Pit Mining: strategic and tactical plans for surface mines.
  • Parametric Mine Design: rule-based design that keeps up with the data.
  • Block Caving and Underground Mining: two plans for one cave.

Leads to

  • Solutions: Strategic Mine Planning, Mine Design, Tactical Mine Planning. Products: Whittle, Surpac, MineSched.
3Operation

Mine Operations

Is the mine doing what the plan said?

Topic

  • Mine Operations: one source of truth for control, reconciliation and forecasts.

Leads to

  • Solution: Mine Operational Management. Service: Planning and Optimization.
4Across the life of mine

Sustainable Mining

How do we mine more with less?

Topic

  • Sustainable Mining: recovery, low-waste extraction, digital twins and measured KPIs.

Leads to

  • Strategic Mine Planning solution; Mining Studies and Mining Economics services.

Beyond the topics

The rest of the site, organised by what you need.

Topics explain. Solutions, products and services are where the work gets done, and the disciplines pages describe the professions ACALA serves.

Latest reading

Recent articles across the topics

Questions people ask

Featured topics FAQ

What is a featured topic?
A long-form page on one question that comes up in mining projects, written by ACALA geologists and planners. It explains the idea, the decisions, the tools and services involved, and links the articles on the subject.
How are topics different from solutions?
Topics explain a subject. Solutions describe a set of GEOVIA roles and ACALA services that address it. Every topic page links to the solutions it leads to.
Are the figures on the topic pages real data?
No. The interactive figures are illustrative models built to show a trade-off. Real numbers come from your own block model, which ACALA is glad to run.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Write to us with the question. If the answer is long enough to be useful to others, it becomes a topic page.
How does ACALA help?
Licences for GEOVIA software, consulting services from exploration to feasibility and operations, and training on your own data. Each topic page ends with the three.

Next step

Have a question that is not on the list? Ask it. It may become the seventh topic.

Write to us with the problem your project is facing. An ACALA geologist or planner will answer, and if the answer is long enough, we will publish it.

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+62 21 8066 9600
office@acala.co.id
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